Improvement in packing boxes and crates



H. M. SIMONS.

Packing-Box and Crater.

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WI TJV'ESSES I J! ttorneys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY M. SIMONS, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKINGBQXES AND CRATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,303, dated October 26, 1875 application filed July 28, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY M. SnvroNs, of Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of South Uarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing Boxes and Grates; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to packing. boxes or crates for packing and transporting vegetables, fruits, and such other articles of commerce.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an end view of my improved box; Fig. 2, a modification of the same Fig. 3, a view showing a number of the boxes as packed together.

The six boxes shown at the left-hand side have central grooves, and the six at the righthand side have no grooves.

A represent-s the head of the box; B, the slats; O, the cut-away or beveled corners, and D the central V-groove.

My invention has for its object the construction of packing-boxes so that air may freely circulate between them, and at the same time allow the heat generated in storing vegetables in rows of boxes to pass off with little or no obstruction.

In order to accomplish this I make the ends or heads A of the boxes of such a shape-that is, with the beveled corners G and central grooves D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2as that when piled one upon another and in rows there shall be a space or opening extending entirely through the stack at the corners of the boxes, and when a larger amount of space is required for ventilation I make the boxes with one or more additional grooves along the top and bottom, as shown at D.

The grooves D will be found unnecessary in some instances. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as confining myself exclusively to boxes provided with such grooves.

The ends or heads A of the boxes are made solid, and the sides, top, and bottom are formed by nailing or otherwise securing the ends of slats B to the heads. When the boxes are made long I introduce a bridge in the middle of the box, corresponding in size and shape to the heads of the box, for the purpose of stiffening the slats, and also to prevent crushing in at the sides, top, and bottom of box. The spaces between the slats are made to suit the size of the articles to be packed in the box. The larger the articles the greater the width of space between the slats, and vice versa.

The heads of the boxes may be perforated, if desired. v

The boxes are of such shape as will facilitate handling, as they may be readily picked up by putting the hands under the corners O, and in transporting there is very little danger of knocking 011' the corner slat and spilling the contents, this being a great objection in square boxes.

When the boxes are first made one or two slats are left loose that the'box may be filled. After filling the box the slats are firmly secured to the heads.

What 1 claim, and desire to secure by Let- July, 1875.

HENRY M. SIMONS. Witnesses T. F. MASYGK, JOHN L. BoNNELL. 

